Moistening device



April 2, 1935.

l F. A. wAT-KlNs MOISTENING DEVICE Filed NOV. 2'7, 1933 Patented Apr. 2,1935v f UNITED/7 STAT d `1396313 Y l MOISTENING lDEvrcE Frederick A.Watkins, Highland Park.- nl. n Application November k27, 1933,r SerialNo.' 699r,857

' 7 Claims. (c1. sil- 738) My invention relates to moistening devices,l

particularly such as maybe used `for moistening postage stamps, labels,envelopes or even the fingers. j

One of the objects of theinvention vis to provide -a simple, practical'and advantageous form of moistening device.` c Another object of Atheinvention is to permit the devices' to be readily adaptable and usefulfor accomplishing the various purposes above set forth and others. A f

. Another object of the invention is to secure cleanliness and preventdirt from accumulating inor upon the device and so prevent'the objectswhich are moistened' from becoming soiled.

Another object of the invention is to secure ready adjustment to permitgraduation of the moistening effect.

Another object of the invention is tosecure the foregoing and other`desirable resultsin a simple and expeditious manner.

. In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 is a plan View of a moisteningdevice embodying my invention; l n

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same Vtaken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1; andp A Fig. 3 is yan end elevation of the device.

Referring to the drawing, I show a moisteningv device comprising aV bowlory tray I for vholding themoistening liquid. This bowl or tray ispreferably made of glass so thatitsinterior may be readily seen,although other materials could of course be used. This bowl or trayispreferablyA rectangular in form, as bestshown in Fig. 1.

' For supporting the vbowl or tray conveniently and preventing noise andinjury to the article, such as a desk, on which the device may bemounted preferably provide a plurality of pads or buttons 2 whichare'secured to the under side ofthe bowl or Vtray and serve as feet for4the same. These feet are preferably made of rubber or like material togripthe surface on which the device rests and prevent slippage when inuse.` These feet are particularly useful when the device is made ofglass.

This bowl or tray preferably has a cutaway corner 3 so asto provide anelevated overhang 4 whose purpose will be referred tor later on. Y

A moistening member such as the brush 5 is shown arranged in the bowl ortray I, as best shown in Fig. 2, being preferably arranged Vat aninclination with its lower end 6 at which the bristles are boundtogether mounted on the floor of the bowl or tray and its upper end 1projecting above the top of the latter.

` Hf below said overhang ll.'

'I'he floor or bottom of the bowl or tray I is preferably provided withVstops desirably formed integral withy the `bowl or tray I to hold thebrushy 5 in its proper position. The brush 5 being more or lessimmersed/2in, the

`moistening liquid or water in the `bci-Wl or, tray will causethe'brushto be'moistened, throughout its length, including its upperprojectingopera: i

- A cover IIJ for the bowl or tray I ispreferably provided and arrangedto be'` mountedontop.

lpresence ofthe other anges I2, I2 permit the Y Vcover IB to be heldVproperly in position and at the. same time permit it to be slid back andforth so as to more or less uncoverithe bowl or trayl, to permit wateror rother liquidtobe poured therein and-for other purposes. In the. useof the device this cover I0 is normally kept in position to close thetray or bowl asrnuchY as possible, as shown in Figs. l and 2. l

. An arm I5, preferablyV in the form of a wire or other metal piece, `ismounted on the bowl;I and arranged to be placedfin position lengthwiseof the brush 5 `andicloseto -itsoperative end "l,

as shown in Figsxl and 2. AThis member I5 may serve as a guide for theVlenvelope cover or paper or otherarticle to be moistened, andjispreferably mountedfor swinging motion as bymeans of a screw I6 passingthrough the aforesaid; overhang or shoulder 4 and having its end'or headA- thumb nut I8 is mounted on the upper endof screw I6, so that itmay beadjusted to Ytightenthe guide or arm l5, ,washers 1 I9;being preferablyinterposed be.-A tween the loop 2li forming the end of guide wire- I5and the top of the bowl or tray I, and between the head of screw I6 andthe overhang 4. These washers I9 are preferably made of a ma-f terialsuch as fiber, which will have a friction then nut may be tightened soas to hold it in adjusted position. Thus adjustment may besecured forvarious purposes, to accommodate dif-v ferent articles or differentthicknesses of articles, and so on. In Fig. 2 the arm I5 is shown at aslight distance from the end 'l of brush 5, so as to permit the cover ofan envelope or other articleto be moved by the guide l5 and brush end 1'to secure the proper moistening and the guide l5 may be adjusted tovary this space as desired. Preferably guide I5 is Vquite close to brush1 and guide l5 is held firmly in position by n a tightening thumb nutI8.

It wi'xllrbe-understood that; changes and modications. may be madewithoutv departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class specified havinga bowl.

or tray for moistening iluid, a moisten'ing mem# ber for arrangement inthe bowl or tray.- withian end projecting for moisteningpurposes, and aguide arranged along the side of themoistening end of the brush andpivotally mounted for. "horizontal swinging movement at one end on thebowl ortray, saidr bowl i or. tray having a cut-awayportionfovming=anoverhang onwr'richlsaidguide .isimouted 2i A'Jd'evlceof-lthe' class'specied having a bowl orf treffer;inolsteningffluid, a;moisteningimemberforiarran'gementiinthe bowlaor tray with an endprojecting for moistening purposes. and` a guide? arranged'lalohg;theiside of the .moistening end of thebrush and pivotally mounted forhoriaantal. swinging movement at one vend on the lbowl ontray, saidibowlor tray having'acut-away portion. forming 'an overhang. on.l which saidguide ils: mountedfsaid vguide` being pvotally: mounted bymeansifavertically arranged screw bolt havingaan: adjusting nut. i

53:1mfdevicegof the classspecied comprising a glassbowl1ontrayga.moisteningmeniber .mounted therein fandlhavmg arprojectingend fon meistening purposesarmetalf'cover: arranged to1slide ontopaz-off the'bowl for trayand'. covering .alli of' the same exceptingltheffspacw where the: -brushaproiects; said ,covenbeingiprovided with:downwardly 'extendingv side ;a'.nd.backV flanges: to- 'permit'. it toslideibut'. torihold titl in: Jpi'operfclosed: position, .a guideShaving ione:` end pivotalljmnounted at one corneriof lthe rbowl'. or`tray; andi arranged tozextend lengthwise of the :projecting i end of thebmsh; andltoswing horizontallyfa'bout itspivoted en'dsaidugmde'beingzmountedson :a `screw :'.bolt providedfwithttarr-adjustmg'nut topermit :movementlandiiadjustment of said guide.

e4.. A device fof tlie'class` specied. comprisingY aglassbowl'ortraylamoisteningmember mounted .therein andLhavinga;projecting: end. for meistening'purposes, Aa; metal coverlarrangedtoislideV on -topkof the ',bowlr for tray' and. covering all: of thesame excepting the Aspaee'whereethe brushl .proij'ects, aashonlzontallyswinging guide pivotally :mounted at'onecorner of-the .bowl or tray andarranged .to i extend lengthwise of the projecting end of the ,-bru'sh,said guide `mounted at one corner of the bowl tray and arranged to beingmounted on a vertical screw bolt extending through a horizontal wallportion of the bowl, provided with an adjusting nut to permit movementand adjustment of said guide, and

seats of compressible friction material between the opposite ends of thescrew bolt and the upper and lower sides of said bowl wall portion.

5. A device of the class specied comprising a. glass bowl or tray, amoistening member mounted therein and having a projecting endformeistening purposes, a` metal coverarranged'to slide on top of the bowlor tray and covering all of the wsame excepting the space where thebrush projects, .av horizontally swinging guide pivotally or extendlengthwise of the projecting end of the brush, said Aguidebeing"'mounted on a vertical screw bolt provided with an adjusting nutto permit movementI and adjustment of said guide, and washersof-rcompressiblefriction material on the opposite endsfofi the screwboltto cooperate with said adjusting.nut,.saidibowlor tray beingprovidedwith recesses for said washers.

6..Adevice.of' thefclass specified comprising a glass'bowl ortray,a.moistening member mounted therein and having a projecting,moistening end, said bowl or tray having a cut-away portionA to form ashoulder or overhang at one sidefa horizontally swingingl guidehavingone end pivotally mounted on said shoulder or overhang and-arranged to be swung aboutsaid end into Aposition close tothemoisteningA member, a screw bolt on which-said guide is pivotallymountedsaid screw bolt passingthrough said overhang andi having its headon one side vof `the same and an adjust ing nut on .the bolt on'theother sideof .the same, and washers of compressible friction materiallonthe screw-'bolt on oppositesidesof the overhangto cooperate withthebolt'head and associating nut.

7. A device of the class specied comprising a glassbowlor` tray,amoistening member mounted therein and having a projecting'moisteningend, saidwbowl xor. tray having a cut-away portion to form a shoulder oroverhang'atI one side, a-'horizontally swinging guide having one endpivotally mountednn said shoulder or overhang' and arranged to'be swunginto position close tothe moistening member, a screw bolt `on which saidguide is pivotally mounted, said screw bolty passingthroughsaid overhangVand having its' head 'on one side of the same and an adjusting nut onthe vbolton the otherside of the same, and washers of compressiblefriction material on the screw bolt on opposite sidesvof the overhang tocooperate with the bolt head and' associating nut, said overhang beingprovided with recesses for' said washers.

FREDERICK A. WATKINS.

Cil

